HomeMy Public PortalAbout2015-11-24 minutes 1
Public Safety Committee Meeting
Call to Order
The November 24, 2015, Public Safety Committee meeting convened at 7:30 a.m. by
Councilman Mihalevich.
Attendance
Present: Committee Members: Councilman Rick Mihalevich, Councilman Jim Branch,
Councilman Carlos Graham, Councilman Ken Hussey and Councilman Mark
Schreiber.
Guests: Councilman Larry Henry, City Administrator Steve Crowell, Lincoln University
Police Chief Bill Nelson, Fire Chief Matt Schofield, Police Chief Roger
Schroeder, Cole County Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Farr, Public
Works Operations Division Director Britt Smith, Police Captain Eric Wilde, and
Firefighter Josh Young.
Approval of Minutes
Councilman Graham made a motion to approve the minutes of the August 27, 2015, meeting.
Councilman Branch seconded the motion. Minutes were approved.
Discussion of Agenda Items
OLD BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
Phillips 66 Grant
Police Captain Wilde advised Phillips 66, through their Corporate Citizenship Grant, has offered
the police department $13,000 to enhance police equipment. The grant, if approved by the City
Council, will be used to modernize equipment for the Emergency Operations Center/Training
Room. This is a no-match grant. Councilman Hussey made a motion to forward the grant request
onto the City Council for approval. Councilman Schreiber seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Missouri Statewide Communications Assistant Program Grant
Captain Wilde advised this no-match grant would provide the police department with two mobile
radios. These radios are programmed to specifically access the Missouri Statewide
Interoperability Network and enhance mobile radio communications between state and local
responders. The estimated cost of each radio is $5,000. The State of Missouri will purchase the
radios and provide them to the police department. Councilman Branch made a motion to forward
the grant request onto the City Council for approval. Councilman Hussey seconded the motion.
Motion passed.
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Chestnut Street/Lincoln University Parking Resolution
In the absence of City Counselor Hilpert, Chief Schroeder advised he has had several
conversations with Lincoln University Police Chief Nelson regarding illegal parking in front of
the Lincoln University Union on Chestnut Street. Mr. Hilpert has prepared a proposed ordinance
which would authorize the Lincoln University Police Department (LUPD) to enforce the no
parking prohibition along Chestnut Street. Chief Nelson stated LU President Rome is frustrated
with the parking situation and is requesting an amended ordinance to allow LUPD to issue
parking tickets on all streets that border or are within the LU campus, including Lafayette, E.
Dunklin, and Locust. Chief Nelson advised that some LU faculty and staff illegally park on the
streets to avoid purchasing parking permits. Public Works Operations Division Director Smith
projected a map of the area for viewing. Mr. Smith advised currently the Parking Division is
tasked with parking enforcement around the LU campus.
Chief Nelson stated his officers are not commissioned by the City so they have limited powers of
enforcement. An amended ordinance would allow LUPD officers to issue administrative
summons payable to LU. Tickets issued to vehicle owners who are not affiliated with LU would
be cited to City Court. Chief Schroeder and Chief Nelson are in agreement that enforcement
through LUPD would hold students more accountable.
Division Director Smith stated parking time limits established through the City could be
enforced by both LUPD and the City.
After discussion, it was suggested the proposed ordinance be rewritten by City Counselor Hilpert
to include all streets adjacent or within the Lincoln University Campus, to include Atchison
Way, to be enforced by Lincoln University Police Department and/or the City of Jefferson.
Councilman Branch made a motion to forward the proposed ordinance, with the stated
amendments discussed, to the City Council for approval. Councilman Schreiber seconded the
motion. With Councilman Graham abstaining, the motion was passed.
MoDOT Holiday DWI Enforcement Campaign Grant
Chief Schroeder advised this is a $1,200 no-match grant from the Missouri Department of
Transportation through the University of Central Missouri, for DWI enforcement to promote
holiday safety. The special enforcement will run from December 18 through January 3. Although
Traffic Unit officers typically perform the directed enforcement, the opportunity is open for all
officers. Councilman Graham made a motion to forward the grant request to the City Council for
approval. Councilman Schreiber seconded the motion. Motion passed.
OTHER BUSINESS
Fire Department Update
Chief Schofield advised he had six items to discuss.
Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) have been placed in six City areas this year: City Hall,
City Hall Annex, Hyde Park at the Streets Building, Transit/Central Maintenance, Airport, and in
the Fire Department Shift Supervisor vehicle. Chief Schofield would like to place AEDs in
additional City areas/buildings next year.
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The bi-fold replica doors for the Fire Department Museum have been received. They will be
painted and fitted with glass. Chief Schofield hopes to have them installed before winter weather
sets in.
The Fire Apparatus Committee is in the process of setting out specifications for future purchases.
The term “apparatus” refers to large fire trucks, including engine pumper, rescue squad and
ladder trucks. Criteria includes functionality, safety and durability.
Employment offers have been extended for the Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Training Officer
positions. Chief Schofield anticipates those positions to be filled next week.
Chief Schofield advised two firefighters are attending recruit school. Positions have been offered
to two additional candidates, both of whom have had previous training. Firefighter Josh Young
was introduced as the point person for recruiting and gave an overview of the current hiring
process. Because testing, by ordinance, is conducted once every two years, Chief Schofield and
Firefighter Young feel that length of time may cause viable candidates to drop out of the process.
Because of previous budget constraints, Chief Schofield has attempted to hire candidates with
experience, but that requires applicants to have completed EMT training, as well as Fire 1 and 2
programs, which is a lengthy process. Chief Schofield would like to open the hiring process on a
yearly basis. New options for testing may include applicants paying their own testing fees to test
at alternate locations and times. There are many testing sites available in the country. Again this
year the department will open physical fitness testing for candidates a practice run before the
official testing date. Chief Schofield noted that changing the frequency of testing dates from t wo
years to one year may require a language change in the ordinance.
Police Department Update
Chief Schroeder advised he is currently in the middle of a hiring process for both police officer
and communications operator positions. He is conducting second interviews with a captain in
attendance. He intends to extend conditional offers of employment next week to both a police
officer and communications operator candidate. He must, by ordinance, extend the conditional
offer before requiring the candidate to undergo physical and psychological assessments.
Chief Schroeder stated the department has returned to a single digit turnover rate. Over the years,
the department has had a consistent turnover rate of approximately 8%. Currently, there are three
officers attending the Law Enforcement Training Institute at the University of Missouri in
Columbia. One officer is currently in the field training program. Chief Schroeder anticipates
being at full staff by Christmas.
Chief Schroeder asked Captain Wilde to give an update on the 911 phone upgrade. Captain
Wilde stated the first phase of a three-phase upgrade plan has been completed. The phone
upgrade went live on Wednesday, November 18th. This upgrade made the phone system fully
redundant at the 911 facilities at the police department and Fire Station #3. There is now
continuous coverage, with swell capability from 6 to 10 operators. Phase 2 will be the
radio/recorder upgrade. The current system is approximately 12 years old. The radio upgrade
would move communications from the push button radio to a touch screen through the use of a
server stack. The upgrade to the recorder is necessary as the department is required by law to
maintain recordings of calls and transmissions for a specified period of time.
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Captain Wilde gave an update on the HVAC system installation. The first phase of the five phase
project, the training room, is almost completed. The work has progressed into the second phase
which includes the north side of the building. Those occupying offices in this area have been
relocated throughout the building. Captain Wilde stated that with the anticipation of purchasing
EOC equipment through the Missouri Statewide Communications Assistance Program Grant,
wiring and data ports were installed in the training room during the HVAC renovations.
Cole County Emergency Management Update
Coordinator Farr advised City and Cole County staff attended Web EOC training provided
through the State of Missouri. A total of 49 states now utilize online resource requests durin g
emergency situations. Additional Web training will be offered next month. Captain Wilde
advised that the anticipated equipment upgrade in the training room incorporates the Web EOC
system.
Coordinator Farr hosted an EOC management course last month. Cole County, police and fire
personnel attended the training.
Adjourn
Councilman Mihalevich adjourned the meeting at 8:30 a.m.
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 31st in the City Annex Multipurpose
Room.